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BT Sport will show Aberdeen v Celtic clash among first SPFL games

BT Sport has announced the first exclusively live matches it will show this coming season from the top tier of the Scottish Professional Football League.

The games include the top flight clash between Aberdeen and Celtic at Pittodrie on August 17, as the Hoops look to defend their title. Neil Lennon’s men won the league by a margin of 16 points last year, as well as reaching the last 16 of the UEFA Champions League and beating Barcelona at Celtic Park in the group stages. The Dons will be looking to improve on their 8th placed finish last year, under manager Derek McInnes in his first full season.

BT Sport will start its coverage of the Scottish Professional Football League top tier on August 2 with the Friday evening match between newly-promoted Partick Thistle and Dundee United.

The Jags will have to find their feet quickly back in the top division as they play host to the Tangerines, managed by their former boss Jackie McNamara, who left them in controversial circumstances last season. McNamara will be back to face the wrath of Firhill for the first time since he left.

BT Sport will also show the big clash pitching last season’s SPFL top flight runners up Motherwell against Kilmarnock. The Steelmen, under boss Stuart McCall, will be looking to find early season form with a home victory against Killlie on August 31.

BT Sport will show 30 exclusively live matches from the Scottish Professional Football League, and a further ten Rangers games in the Scottish Professional Football League third tier during the season.

The first BT Sport Rangers game will see them take on Brechin City at Ibrox on August 10. Ally McCoist’s men will be looking for another promotion, as they edge their way back towards the top tier following liquidation and having to re-join in the lowest division. City will be stepping into an unknown world, as they take the field at Ibrox, instead of Glebe Park, where the capacity is less than 4,000.

BT Sport will then follow Rangers to Airdrieonians on August 23. The New Broomfield stadium is likely to be packed to its 10,000 capacity for the visit of the fallen Glasgow giants. The Diamonds will be looking to bounce back following relegation from the SPFL second tier last year.

Simon Green, head of BT Sport, said: “We are delighted to announce our first few live games from Scotland. The trip north for Celtic to Aberdeen will be an early test of whether they have the resolve to retain their title.

“Thistle fans will ensure a heated atmosphere for the return of their ex-manager Jackie McNamara and Motherwell will offer us an early glimpse of whether Stuart McCall can take the huge step of overturning the current Celtic monopoly at the top of the table.

“We are also delighted to follow the dramatic story of Rangers, as they attempt to rebuild their club and regain their place in the top division in the next few years. As they found last year in the fourth tier, every club will be looking to take their scalp and Airdrieonians FC and Brechin City will be no different.

“BT Sport has a great selection of live action from the Scottish Professional Football League this season, including ten Rangers matches, so fans will be well served by our channels. We will also have some fantastic talent announcements lined up who will front our coverage.”

The identities of the presenters and pundits for BT Sport’s Scottish football coverage will be revealed closer to the start of the season.

BT Sport will also show 38 exclusively live football matches from the Barclays English Premier League, including 18 of the ‘top picks’ from August 2013 for three seasons. The channels will also show live FA Cup, UEFA Europa League, top tier live football from Germany, Italy, France, Brazil, Australia and the USA, plus action from the FA Women’s Super League and 30 live matches from the Football Conference.

Enquiries about this news release should be made to the BT Group Newsroom on its 24-hour number: 020 7356 5369. From outside the UK dial + 44 20 7356 5369.

BT is one of the world’s leading providers of communications services and solutions, serving customers in more than 170 countries. Its principal activities include the provision of networked IT services globally; local, national and international telecommunications services to its customers for use at home, at work and on the move; broadband and internet products and services and converged fixed/mobile products and services.

In the year ended 31 March 2013, BT Group’s revenue was £18,017m with profit before taxation of £2,501m.

British Telecommunications plc (BT) is a wholly-owned subsidiary of BT Group plc and encompasses virtually all businesses and assets of the BT Group. BT Group plc is listed on stock exchanges in London and New York. For more information, visit www.btplc.com&nbsp;